Adjustable base invalid lift



Jan. 28, 1958 T. R. HOYIER ETAL ADJUSTABLE BASE INVALID LIFT 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 21, 1954 j NV TORS Jan. 28, 1958 T. R. HOYERlsrrmv 2,321,406

I .ADJUSTABLE BASE INVALID LIF T Filed July 21, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 19TTORNE'VS.

T. R. HOYER ETAL 2,821,406

ADJUSTABLE BASE INVALID LIFT Jan. 28, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filgd July21, 1954 a I NTORSI /5 31:

United States 1 ADJUSTABLE BASE INVALID LIFT Theodore R. Hoyer andVictor R. Hildemann, Oshkosh,

Wis., assignors to Ted Hoyer & Company, Incorporated, Oshkosh, Wis., acorporation of Wisconsin Application July 21, 1954, Serial No. 444,764

2 Claims. (Cl. 280-34) atent O f on an upper portion of the mast formovement in a verti- A cal plane and from the outer end of which slingsor a saddle are depended, and power means between the upright post ormast and the vertically swingable arm.

Invalid lifts are very useful in respect to transferring a patient orincapacitated person from a bed to a wheelchair or vice versa, or intransferring and transporting the patient to some other article offurniture, appliance or conveyance. In connection with an invalid liftof the type under consideration, it is necessary that the space betweenthe arms forming the U-shaped base be sufliciently great to receivetherebetween a wheel chair or other article of furniture or appliance ofconsiderable width. It is furthermore necessary that the overall widthof the horizontally disposed U-shaped base be limited in order that thelift may be wheeled through relatively narrow doorways, halls, aislesand the like.

With the foregoing in mind, it is therefore, a primary object of thepresent invention to provide 'an invalid lift wherein the U-shaped baseis adjustable as to width or :spread whereby the base may be spread topermit the entrance thereinto of a wheel chair or wider article offurniture, and which can thereafter be contracted in width to adapt thelift for wheeled passage through a restricted doorway or hall.

i A further object of the invention is to provide an ad- A furtherobject of the invention is to provide an adjustable base invalid lifthaving easily operated mechanical means for locking the lift base in anyof its positions of adjustment.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ad justable baseinvalid lift which can be readily disassembled to permit storage thereofin a limited space.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable baseinvalid lift which is of very simple construction, which iseasy andconvenient to operate, which is strong, durable and safe, and which iswell adapted for the purposes described.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference charactersindicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. l is a side view of the improved adjustable base inv l d l fPatented Jan. 28, 1958 Fig. 2 is an end view of the lift viewed from theopen end of the U-shaped base, there being a broken line showing of thebase in a relatively spread condition;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the closed end portion of thelift base showing the base adjusting mechanism and the means for lockingthe base in a position of adjustment;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig.3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig.3; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of the' lock operatingrod and associated members, the rod being in a turned locking positionrelative to its position in Fig. 5.

As will be observed from the drawings the base of the improved invalidlift is generally in the form of a horizontally disposed U, formed oftwo complementary hookshaped half sections 10, preferably of tubularmetallic stock, hingedly joined together at their adjacent inner ends.The U-shaped base is open at one end (the left hand end in Fig. l) andthe outer ends of the complementary base sections 10 have swivellinglymounted thereon supporting wheels or casters 11. Each complementary basesection 10, toward the hinged closed end of the base, swivellinglycarries another supporting wheel or caster 12. The inner end portion ofeach base section 10 terminates in an integral upstanding hollow postportion 13. The two post portions of the complementary base sections 10,in the assembled condition of the base, are slightly spaced apart andare connected by plates 14 and 15 which engage the upper and lower ends,respectively of the posts 13, being held thereto by pivot bolts 16 whichextend vertically through the hollow posts 13 and are surrounded bybushings 17 (see Fig. 3). The lower end portions of the pivot bolts 16have threaded thereon retaining nuts 18. At this point it may be statedthat due to the hinged mounting of the inner ends of the complementarybase sections 10 the same may be moved to widen or restrict the openingat the outer end of the base by means hereinafter to be explained.

Integral with the lower connecting plate 15 and mounted on the samebetween the posts 13 is an upwardly directed cylindrical socket 19 whichextends through an opening therefor in the upper plate 14 and which isadapted to removably receive the lower end portion of a vertical mast20. In practice the mast, when inserted in the socket is properlylocated and held against turning movement by a transverse pin 21 on themast entering a slot 22 therefor in the upper peripheral portion of thesocket.

On an intermediate portion of the mast 20, directed toward the open endof the wheeled base, are a pair of spaced apart lugs 23 between whichthe lower end portion of an hydraulic jack cylinder 24 is pivotallymounted on a transverse pivot pin 25. The upper extremity of the mast 20is bifurcated as at 26 and within said hifurcated portion the inner endportion of a vertically swingable arm 27 is removably pivotally mountedon a pivot bolt 28. The arm 27 extends from the mast-20 toward the openend of the U-shaped base at an elevation thereabove and is adapted to bemoved in a vertical plane by the hydraulic jack whose upwardly extendingpiston 28 is pivotally connected to depending lugs 29 on the arm 27. Thehydraulic jack includes an operating lever 30 extending laterallyoutwardly from the base portion of the jack cylinder, which lever isoperatively associated with the jack mechanism so that when it isreciprocated hydraulic fluid will be forced below the lower end of thepiston 28 within the cylinder 24 to project the piston 28 and therebycause the outer end of the arm 27 to be raised. With a weight imposed onthe outer end of the arm 27 said arm can be caused to swing downwardlyby manipulating a controlknob 31projecting from the base of the jackcylinder which relieves the hydraulic pressure acting on the inner endof the jack Piston. An angled plate 57 (see Fig. 2) is secured at itsinner end to the base of the jack lever mounting. SE'and the angled!outer end-portion 57 of said 'plate extends adjacentthe hydraulicpressure control knob 31 and limits thedistance said knob may be turnedoutwardly thereby prevent ng undesired detachment of the turnable knob31 and"pos sible loss of hydraulic fluid.

At the outer end of the vertically swingable arm 27 there is a dependingeyed member 32 which can be. re movably engaged by a hook 33 swingablymounted onthe upper end of a spreader bar and hanger 34. As'will' appearmost clearly from 'Figs. 1. and2' the opposite hooked extremities of thespreader barand' hanger 34 may be removably engaged by the upper endsofchains'35' or other flexible suspension means by which a saddle hookedextremities of the spreader bar and hanger 34.

Also the spreader bar and hanger 34 can be dispensed with and the saddlesupporting chains 35 maybe connected directly to the eyed member 32, ifdesired.

One of the principal features of the present invention is the mechanismwhich permits an attendent who is pushing or operating the lift in astanding position to mechanically spread or contract the companion baseseetions so as to widen or constrict the entrance to the U-base wheneverdesired to permit the base to receive or straddle a chair, piece offurniture or appliance of any width within certain limits and tothereafter narrow the span between the outer ends of the base sect-ionsto facilitate wheeled passage of the lift through a narrowdoorway, hallor other'restricted area.

For the purpose of permitting the lift attendant or operator to adjustthe width of the base while standing at the rear of the lift or pushingthe same, an upright hand lever 36' is provided whose lower endrevolubl-y and re.- movablyextends into a socket-37 therefor'integralwith and inwardly offset from the upper end of a bar 38 which ispivotally mounted inwardly of its lower, end on a. horizontal pivot 39projecting'rearwardly from the lower endofthesocket19'. The inner endsof oppositely-directed arms 40 are pivotally connected to verticallyspaced apart portions of the bar 38 on opposite sides of thepivotal'rnounting 39 thereof and are respectively pivotally connected'attheir outer ends, as at 41, to lugs on the curved end portions of thecomplementary base sections 10. It will thus be seen that a pivotalmovement of the hand lever 36' from its full 'line position in Fig. 2 tothe broken line-position of 'Fig. 2 will, through the arms 40, cause thebase sections 10 to be swung from the relative- 1y narrow or constrictedposition shown in full lines to the spread broken line position, and areverse movement of the hand lever 36' will move the complementary'basesections-from the relatively spread position to an narrower position.Intermediate positions are also obtainable.

The -inventionalso includes means for locking the base sections '10 inany position of adjustment. The post supported top plate -14 has adownturned' flange 14 on which are mounted-in spaced relaiton a pair ofcurved plates=42- and 43. The bar 38, which is pivotally moved throughthe hand lever-36", isconfinedbetween'thecurved plates 42 *an'd' 43' forswinging movement'in a vertical plane and is limited'in its movement in'each direction by the bolts 44 which spacedly mount the curved plates 42and 43 on the downturned flange 14. gin of the inner curved plate 43 isformed with a series of spaced-apart notches or recesses 45 which areadapted to be selectively engaged and disengaged by a stub pin 46projecting laterally from an intermediate portion of a latch plate 47having its lower end yieldingly mounted on a bolt 48 which carries onits shank a confined coil spring 49 which normally exerts pressureagainst the lower end of the latch plate 47 in a manner so asto causeits offset upper end to yieldingly engage a face portion of the curvedplate 43 and thereby cause the stub pin 46 to engage any of the platenotches 45 with which it might be in registration, depending upon theposition of the bar 38 and the consequent spread of the base sections10. The bolt 48 yieldingly mounts the latch plate 47 on an inner faceportion of the lower end o t e P ot l b r A portion of the hand'lever36' which is revolubly engaged within the socket 37 extends below thesocket and'is mutilated or formed with a depending semicircular camsurface 50 (see Figs. 5 and 6). lever 36' is turned in its socket soas-to remove the depending cam surface 50 from' the upper'end portion ofthe latch plate 47, the upper portion of the latch plate being guided ona laterally projecting pin 51, the upper end" portion of the latch plateis permitted'to be yieldinglyurged away from the face portion of the bar38 to project the latchplate carried stub pin 46 into one of the lockingnotches 45 of the plate 43.' This will serve to lock thebar 38 inana-djusted position and hence the comple-- mentary base sections 10will be held in a set position. Should it bedesired to adjust the basesectionsto increase or diminish the spread thereof, it is merelynecessary for the-operator or lift attendant to turn the hand lever 36'within the socket 37 to shift the cam projection 50-from'. the positionof Fig. -5 to the plate engaging position of- Fig". 6 which removes thestub pin 46 from aplate aperture 45. Turning movement of the hand lever36 in both directions is limited by contact of the side edges of thecamprojection 50 with a pin 59(see Fig. 5) mounted in the 'lower portion ofthe socket 37, which pin also serves to locate and hold the lower end ofthe lever 36' withini-ts socket. Consequently, the attendant is thenfree to pivot-ally swing the hand lever 36, which, through the arms 40will pivotally move both of thebase sections10 to spread or: contractthe same, as-desired.

From Figs. 3 and 5 it will-be observed that theuinner. end portions ofthe base sections 10 are provided withdepending.'-integral lugs 55 whichextend into-slots 56 in the lower-plate 15. This arrangement limits theswinging movement 'oflthe base sections in both.directionsztherehypreventing tipping .of the .entire lift mechanism should the adjustingmechanism become impaired or the arms 40. becomedetached.

The-improved adjustable base invalid lift is susceptible' of easy andrapid disassembly to permit storage .of the lift in a-dirnitedwspace orto facilitate packing and trans-- portation thereof. The mast'20 and:partscarried thereby may -be entirely removed from the base carriedsocket-19 and the hand lever 36' maybe removedfrom its base carriedsocket 37. Further, \the chains are detachable from the outer end of thevertically swingable arm -27. and the-saddle 36, .back support 37" orshoulder and :leg slings may be disengaged and arranged in a smallpackage. To further compact the mast and arm assembly the pivot boltZS-maybe removed'so as to fold the ,arm 27 and hydraulic-jack againstthe mast. If the improved-lift :is carried in the disassembledoonditiondescribed it maybe easily setxup for-use atanytime orpointofdestination.

In order to remove a patient from a bed or stationary pieceof furniture,it is merely necessary'toposition-the saddle 36 under the seat of thepatient and adjust-theback support'37',-with.-the -U-shape'dbase beingpositionable under the bed or in embracing relation toth'e' side- Theupper mar- When the hand portions of the stationary support. Then, bymanipulating the operating lever 30 of the hydraulic jack the arm 27will be moved in a vertical plane so as to elevate the outer end of saidarm raising the saddle and the patient supported thereby to a properelevation. Then the entire lift, with the patient supported thereby maybe wheeled to a remote point for the subsequent deposit of the patient,or a wheel chair can be positioned between the complementary members 10of the base to receive the patient after the arm 27 and saddle arelowered through manipulation of the hydraulic fluid control knob 31. Aparticular feature of the improved lift is the means whereby the base 10may be spread or contracted while the lift is stationary or in movementto adapt the spread of the base to a chair or other support of any widthwithin certain limits, or to permit passage of the left through a narrowdoorway or hall. In the latter event the base is constricted. Theattendant may easily push or pull the lift by engaging handle bars 52projecting laterally from an upper portion of the mast 20. The liftoperator or attendant in a standing position is free to manipulate thehand lever 36' to adjust the base, and by turning the hand lever in itssocket, the locking mechanism is engaged with or released from thenotched plate 43 which afiords convenient means for preventing undesiredspreading or constriction of the base relative to its adjusted position.

While an hydraulic jack has been shown and described as theinstrumentality interposed between the mast and the vertically swingablearm for raising and lowering said arm, it should be understood that amechanical jack or other motion transmitting means could be substitutedtherefor.

The improved adjustable base invalid lift is simple in construction andoperation, is exceedingly adaptable and is well suited for the indicatedpurposes.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In a lift for transferring an invalid in a sitting posture, aU-shaped, horizontal, wheeled base member formed of a pair ofcomplementary sides having curved adjacent inner end portions, a hingeconnection between the adjacent inner end portions of the base membersides to permit relative spreading movements of the sides of the basemember, an upwardly directed lever pivotally mounted adjacent said hingeconnection for swinging movement in a vertical plane, a lever operatorrevolubly carried by the lever and normally operable to pivot the lever,bars connected directly to said lever on opposite sides of its pivotalmounting extending to rear portions of said base member sides forswinging them on said hinge connection to spread or constrict the openend of the base member, and a latch for releasably locking said leverand the base member sides in various positions of adjustment operated byturning movements of the lever operator.

2. In an invalid lift, a U-shaped, horizontal, portable base memberformed of a pair of complementary sides having adjacent inner endportions, a hinge unit between the adjacent inner end portions of thebase member sides to permit relative spreading movements of the sides ofthe base member, an upwardly directed lever pivotally mounted on saidhinge unit for swinging movement in a vertical plane, oppositelydirected bars connected to said lever on opposite sides of its pivotalmounting extending to said base member sides for swinging them on saidhinge connection to spread or constrict the open end of the base member,an extension handle movably engaged with said lever, a latch pin plateon said hinge unit formed with a series of spaced recesses, and a latchpin yieldingly associated with said lever and selectively engageablewith said plate recesses to hold the lever and base member sides in adesired position of adjustment, movements of the extension handlerelative to the lever controlling projection or retraction of the latchpin relative to a :plate notch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS699,186 Katzke May 6, 1902 2,023,790 Ormsby et al Dec. 10, 19352,287,955 Zunino June 30, 1942 2,427,804 Mueller Sept. 23, 19472,608,418 Finlayson Aug. 26, 1952 2,706,120 Stratton Apr. 12, 19552,739,783 Pentecost Mar. 27, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 907,838 Germany Mar.29, 1954

